Mugabe suggests 2012 elections
2011-06-03 22:35
Special Report
Zimbabwe's Prime Minister and leader of the MDC, has vowed to overturn President Robert Mugabe's controversial indigenisation drive if he wins upcoming general elections.
Johannesburg - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe said the power-sharing government should end this year and elections held as soon as possible, suggesting polls could even be conducted in 2012, the Herald newspaper said on Friday.
"If we fail, then elections should be held during the first few months of next year. What we want are elections this year," he said.
Mugabe is at odds with rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change who formed a power-sharing government in 2008 after disputed elections.
Tsvangirai wants polls to be held next year, saying that constitutional and political reforms must come first.
The uneasy unity government has brought a measure of stability to the impoverished state holding the world's second-largest platinum reserves.
Early elections could stamp out a nascent recovery and renew political violence, analysts say.
- Reuters
